ADELPHI UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Spring 2009 Fanfare for New Facilities Will Green be the New Black for Business? Women’s Field Hockey is Back Not So secretPassions AU_Spring_2009.indd 1 4/27/09 4:25:07 PM 4 PreSideNt’S PHoto PaGe Spring 2009 a MeSSaGe FroM tHe PreSideNt 5 1 2 Bringing Decisions into 3 Focus When I first arrived at Adelphi,Focus I convened a meeting of a good decision, is not an isolated event, but part of an un- the deans and asked each to introduce him or herself by folding story. It evokes a larger context, while drawing at- name and hobby without reference to title and University tention to a particular moment—just like a good decision. responsibilities. A wonderful conversation ensued, with some who had worked together for decades learning What is your hobby? How does it enhance your life? 4 5 6 7 about talents, accomplishments, and interests previously Please share your stories, and share these from Adelphi. unknown. The deans identified themselves as tap dancer, Sincerely, pianist, singer, guitar player, saxophonist, poet, and collec- tor of esoteric hive shapes. From that day on, we could no longer look at each other as a “title;” we saw each other as more fully formed individuals. Robert A. Scott The same is true for our faculty. It is fascinating to learn President about a former professional musician who relies on frag- ments of tunes and melodies to enhance the psychoana- lytic process; a professional singer turned social worker 8 9 who gained firsthand knowledge of life’s injustices while working gigs that expanded her horizons beyond the con- Performing arts students and faculty straints of her middle-class upbringing; a nutritionist and 1 celebrate the opening of AU PaC, professor of nursing who overcame her shyness by taking their new home. acting classes in graduate school, even going so far as to Board of trustees Chairman thomas F. appear in a big-budget action film starring Bruce Willis. Motamed ’71, amy Maiello Hagedorn 2 ’05 (Hon.), and President robert a. In each case, the person is more fully human, and his or Scott celebrate the opening of the her teaching and scholarship seem both more sophisticat- 10:00 p.m. on the Severn alice Brown early learning Center. river in annapolis, ed and more approachable. Maryland, august 2007 President robert a. Scott and donna de Varona, first president of the Women’s In my case, I love photography, and am happy to comment early evening in 3 Sports Foundation, show their gratitude on how my work as president is enhanced by my hobby. amagansett, New York, to swimming phenomenon Michael 10 Phelps for speaking on campus. President robert a. Scott celebrates the open- august 2008 ing of AU PaC with State Senator kenneth P. Good photographs, like good decisions, require compo- President robert a. Scott with political 7 laValle ’61, representative Carolyn McCarthy sition; timing; proper lighting; color and texture; design; pundit Mary Matalin, who spoke on ’97 (Hon.), and State Senator kemp Hannon. 4 campus with husband James Carville, on and a willingness to experiment and experience failure. the cusp of the November 2008 election Students strut their stuff at a fair trade fash- 8 ion show, organized as part of adelphi’s iCaN The more I consider design and composition for pho- Performing arts department Chair (imagine Change, act Now) initiative. tographing flowers, faces, lightning, and sunsets, the more Nicholas Petron M.a. ’70 with al and I reinforce these abilities, skills, and values in all that I do, Nan larson, parents of RENt scribe President robert a. Scott and leading Holly- 5 wood screenwriter and director todd robin- Jonathan larson ’82, at adelphi’s 9 and vice versa. And the more people know about my hob- gala performance of the Broadway son ’82 welcome the Class of 2012 at Matricu- by, the more they will know I am multi-dimensional and lation 2008. blockbuster willing to be evaluated by others. A good photograph, like Frank ransome ’50 with President Creativity for a Cause: a bra donated for 6 the Creative Cups gala, which supported the robert a. Scott at Homecoming 2008 10 adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program AU_Spring_2009.indd 4-5 4/27/09 4:25:14 PM 6 uNiVerSitY NeWS Spring 2009 University News Editor’s Note Reasons for Optimism, Despite the Times As I write, blue chip companies are shedding jobs by the Gayle D. Insler tens of thousands. Stock markets around the world remain slumped, and credit markets have yet to thaw. Yet, even in the midst of the gloom, are reasons for op- Appointed ProvOsT timism. On campus and at our centers, classes are filled with students eager for knowledge and faculty who gen- and senior vice President for Academic Affairs erously share it. Adelphi athletes and performers are tak- ing full advantage of the new spaces in the Center for Recreation and Sports and the Performing Arts Center. Eminent guest lecturers, artists, In March 2009, following a national search, and performers enliven campus with new perspectives and aesthetics. Adelphi appointed Gayle D. Insler as pro- In fact, Adelphi’s mission seems more urgent and relevant now amid lean times than in fatter vost and senior vice president for academ- ones. Ingenuity and diligence are at a premium when resources are scarce. We at Adelphi have ic affairs. For 11 years, Dr. Insler has served a unique opportunity to endow our students with these qualities so that they can endure and as the dean of Adelphi’s College of Arts and even excel despite scarcity and greater competition. We can seize this time to help our students Sciences and served as acting provost since develop the moral fiber that will enable them to avoid the greed and corruption that have recently tainted leaders in sectors ranging from banking to government. By honing our students’ July 2008. Since her appointment as interim creativity and critical thinking skills, we will prepare them to address pressing global issues, provost in July, Dr. Insler has overseen the from economic crises to environmental disasters. University’s strategic planning initiative and Adelphi, as an institution, must accomplish these goals in an efficient and effective the University’s 10-year Middle States ac- manner—in essence achieve more with less. creditation review, and played an active role acclaimed author alice I feel especially fortunate to be surrounded by Adelphi’s talented and committed students, facul- in the opening of more than 100,000 square Hoffman ’73 Gives reading ty, alumni, and administrative leaders who are meeting daunting expectations with aplomb. feet of new academic facilities. of Her latest Novel You’ll read in this issue about undergraduate student Molly Mann ’09 who is embracing the challenge of greening our campus and our planet. Associate Professor Mariano Torras has On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, devoted much of his scholarship to finding economic models that are environmentally sustain- angela M. Jaggar ’62, M.a. ’65 Joins adelphi Board of trustees bestselling author and Adelphi alumna able and, in his spare time, he has founded a school in Brooklyn. Sheryl Mihopulos, director Alice Hoffman ’73 returned to her alma of Student Financial Services, and her team work tirelessly to provide financial support and mater to give a reading of her newest guidance to Adelphi students and families. Thomas J. Ward, Jr. ’93, director of the Center for Adelphi has elected Angela M. Jaggar B.S. ‘62, the NYU Reading Recovery Project, and co- book, The Third Angel. The prolific Ms. Career Development, and his staff are creating new ways to connect students and alumni with M.A. ‘65, a retired professor of education directed the program for 10 years. Dr. Jaggar Hoffman, who penned her first book, coveted job opportunities. at New York University (NYU), to its sits on several regional nonprofit boards. She Property Of, at age 21, now counts 28 I hope you find new reasons for hope amid these pages and continue to share with us your Board of Trustees. Dr. Jaggar taught and holds a B.S. in elementary education and an books to her name, including novels, thoughts and news. conducted research in children’s language M.A. in education from Adelphi University short story collections, and works for Bonnie Eissner and literacy development for more than 30 and a Ph.D. from New York University. young adults. years before retiring in 2000. She co-founded Editor-in-Chief AU_Spring_2009.indd 6-7 4/27/09 4:25:18 PM 8 uNiVerSitY NeWS Spring 2009 “I just had 60 Years On: The United Nations and Universal Human Rights to swim “All human beings are born free and equal human rights through authoritative inter- convener of the American NGO Coalition in dignity and rights. They are endowed national law. for the International Criminal Court; and through it.” with reason and conscience and should Donald J. Puchala, Byrnes Professor of act towards one another in a spirit of During the morning panel, “The U.N. International Studies at the University of – Michael PHelPS brotherhood.” and Human Rights: Programs, Politics, South Carolina. and Practice,” speakers Emanuele Giaufret These words form the first of 30 articles of the European Commission Delegation Panelists tackled the issue of whether that comprise the Universal Declaration to the United Nations, Andrew Whitley, human rights are indeed universal, or of Human Rights, adopted by the United director of the United Nations Relief and rather culturally based—a question that Nations on December 8, 1948. Works Agency Liaison Office in New York, they were unable to answer.